William A. Jones
Likeness from The Watertown News (Apr. 24, 1895)
27th Commissioner of Indian Affairs
In office
May 3, 1897 – December 31, 1904
PresidentWilliam McKinley
Theodore Roosevelt
Preceded byDaniel M. Browning
Succeeded byFrancis E. Leupp
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Iowa district
In office
January 7, 1895 – April 1897
Preceded byJohn Montgomery Smith
Succeeded byBjorn Holland
22nd Mayor of Mineral Point, Wisconsin
In office
April 1884 – April 1885
Preceded byThomas Priestley
Succeeded byJohn Montgomery Smith
Personal details
Born(1844-09-07)September 7, 1844
Pembrokeshire, Wales
DiedSeptember 17, 1912(1912-09-17) (aged 68)
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeGraceland Cemetery, Mineral Point
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Sarah Cleary Ansley
​
​
(m. 1881⁠–⁠1912)​
Children
  • William Ansley Jones
  • (b. 1883; died 1962)
  • Florence (Ansley)
  • (b. 1889; died 1985)
  • Agnes and Marion
Alma materPlatteville State Normal School
Occupationfarmer

William Arthur Jones (September 7, 1844 – September 17, 1912) was a Welsh American immigrant, educator, businessman, and Republican politician. He was the 27th Commissioner of Indian Affairs, serving in the administration of U.S. President William McKinley. Earlier, he was mayor of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, and represented Iowa County for two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography

Jones was born on September 7, 1844, in South Wales.[1] He moved to Iowa County, Wisconsin, in 1851 and settled in a Welsh immigrant community near Mineral Point.[2] He was educated in the common schools there, then graduated from the Platteville State Normal School—now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.[1]

He went on to become principal of the Mineral Point high school and was elected to two terms as county superintendent of schools, serving from 1877 to 1881.[2]

He became involved in a banking interest with Alex Wilson, known as Wilson & Jones in 1881, and one of the founders of the Mineral Point Zinc Company in 1882. He remained associated with the Zinc Company until his death. He subsequently became cashier and vice president of the First National Bank of Mineral Point, and was associated with the bank until 1897.

During this time, he was also active with the Republican Party of Wisconsin and was elected mayor and municipal judge of Mineral Point in the April 1884 election.[1] He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly on the Republican ticket in 1894 and 1896. After the conclusion of the regular session of the 1897 session, he was appointed commissioner of Indian Affairs by newly-inaugurated U.S. President William McKinley.

Jones served as commissioner through McKinley's assassination in 1901, and continued as commissioner under McKinley's successor, Theodore Roosevelt. Jones resigned in July 1904 due to clashes over personnel with the Secretary of the Interior, Ethan A. Hitchcock, but continued in the office until the end of the year.[3][4]

After returning to Wisconsin, Jones was general manager of the Mineral Point & Northern Railway, and later was president of the company.[2]

He died at his home in Mineral Point on September 17, 1912.[5]

Personal life and family

William A. Jones had at least two brothers. He married Sarah Ansley on October 22, 1881. He was survived by his wife and four children.[2]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1894, 1896)

Wisconsin Assembly, Iowa District Election, 1894[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1894
Republican William A. Jones 2,829 54.71% +9.15%
Democratic A. J. Doran 1,925 37.23% -10.23%
Prohibition George E. Plant 324 6.27% -0.72%
Populist Harvey Cushman 93 1.80%
Plurality 904 17.48% +15.59%
Total votes 5,171 100.0% +4.07%
Republican gain from Democratic
Wisconsin Assembly, Iowa District Election, 1896[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 3, 1896
Republican William A. Jones (incumbent) 3,263 61.21% +6.50%
Democratic John Montgomery Smith 2,067 38.77% +1.55%
Independent N. H. Snow (write-in) 1 0.02%
Plurality 1,196 22.43% +4.95%
Total votes 5,331 100.0% +3.09%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ a b c d Casson, Henry, ed. (1897). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 680–681. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Tribute by Rev. M. Chase". Mineral Point Tribune. September 26, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Badger Quits His Office". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. July 19, 1904. p. 3. Retrieved May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Jones is All Right". Oshkosh Northwestern. December 30, 1904. p. 10. Retrieved May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Sudden Death of Wm. A. Jones". The Montfort Mail. September 26, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved May 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Casson, Henry, ed. (1895). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 681. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
Wisconsin State Assembly Preceded byJohn Montgomery Smith Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Iowa district January 7, 1895 – April 1897 Succeeded byBjorn Holland Political offices Preceded byThomas Priestley Mayor of Mineral Point, Wisconsin April 1884 – April 1885 Succeeded byJohn Montgomery Smith Government offices Preceded byDaniel M. Browning Commissioner of Indian Affairs May 3, 1897 – December 31, 1904 Succeeded byFrancis E. Leupp
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